Let me know how I'm doing

Ok so I just got my first dSLR about 2 week's ago. I chose the XTi (400d), but so far have just been using it in Auto and Creative modes. But finally tonight I wanted to get adventurous so I tried out P mode. I took both of these with my nifty fifty. They were shot in RAW and converted using DPP. I don't know if I could have made them any better, they were pretty bad to start with (as in the color was way off). I also ran them through Noiseware since I used ISO 800 on the first one and ISO 400 on the 2nd. So I am including the EXIF info since Noiseware stripped it. Ok well onto the picures.

EXIF #1:

Tv(Shutter Speed)
1/20Sec.
Av(Aperture Value)
F1.8
Metering Modes
Evaluative metering
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
800
Lens
EF50mm f/1.8
Focal Length
50.0 mm
Image size
3888 x 2592
Image Quality
Fine
Flash
Off
White Balance
Auto
AF mode
One-Shot AF
Picture Style
Standard
Parameters
Tone Curve : Standard
Sharpness level : -
Pattern Sharpness : -
Contrast : 0
Sharpness : 3
Color saturation : 0
Color tone : 0

EXIF #2:

Tv(Shutter Speed)
1/30Sec.
Av(Aperture Value)
F1.8
Metering Modes
Evaluative metering
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
400
Lens
EF50mm f/1.8
Focal Length
50.0 mm
Image size
3888 x 2592
Image Quality
Fine
Flash
Off
White Balance
Auto
AF mode
One-Shot AF
Picture Style
Standard
Parameters
Tone Curve : Standard
Sharpness level : -
Pattern Sharpness : -
Contrast : 0
Sharpness : 3
Color saturation : 0
Color tone : 0

#1

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first shot is OOF. Both have WB issues. Who sold you warming filters!!! Not needed with Image editing software. Take them back and get a refund. Sorry not the best example. But you get the picture. I should have dialed in some added contrast too! DOH!

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Oh sorry, Lovely model!!!

Thanks a lot Dante!!! Yeah you should have seen the original, the WB was off horribly. I'm amazed that you were able to get it looking like that just from the JPG. If you don't mind could you let me know how you did it? I tried again in DPP with the RAW image and got close to what you got but I still think yours looks better. My second try is at the bottom of this post. I ran it through Noiseware again. Hmmm, I'm starting to think I actually want to BUY a copy of a noise reduction software/plug-in because I'm using Noiseware Community Edition and well after the reduction it makes the image like ~900kb so it must be taking a lot away from it right? Do you or anyone else have any recommendations for me? Thanks for the compliment on the "model"! That actually made me smile when I got up this morning and read that. She is my Fiancee, and yes I feel I am very lucky to have such a wonderful girl. She would be very flattered to know that you called her a model .

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Oh yeah and about the warming filter, it came with the Hoya introduction kit. I had no idea really what filters to buy but the kit seemed like it had all I needed. I haven't tried any of them out but I think the UV and Polarizer will come in handy.

Hi Cobalt, nice pictures. Yeah your WB is a bit off as Dante says, his correction gets the balance better whilst still mainataining a sense of that lamp light look. You have taken the WB a stage further and IMO a tad too far making it look like a day light shot, thus loosing some of the warmth and atmosphere of the Tungsten lit room.....

but that said, they are nice pictures and a nice model cool

Thanks for the kind words about the photo homera1. I think one of the mistakes I did make was shooting in P mode because the shutter speed was like 1/30 and it was handheld so it probably would have been sharper if the shutter was faster. Although I don't know what that would have did for the exposure. I'm thinking I should have shot it in Av mode? But yeah as I said this is my first time shooting RAW and my first time doing any PP work so I guess I just have to keep practicing. Does anyone have any suggestions on settings in camera to take portraits? Oh and thanks homera1 for the compliment on the model .

CobaltSS, first off, you do have a lovely model to work with. When I first started shooting RAW, I didn't have a clue when using a RAW converter, I use RSE2006 BTW. As with most anything, it is a learning curve. All I can say is practice, practice, practice. I also started in P mode and eventually moved to Av and Tv mode. For the past month or so I have been shooting in M mode. Play around with the different modes and different settings. That is the good thing about digital. I still have a way to go, but I'm learning as I go and it has been both fun and frustrating for me You are getting there as by evidence on you second attempt.

I want to add one more thing. When I shoot in RAW there has yet to be a photo were I didn't have to adjust the WB in RSE.

Art

Thanks Art, she is the most wonderful fiancee a guy could ever ask for. And she does make a great subject to photograph. She has also just got interested in photography and purchased a Canon A630. I'm hoping we both can learn this together. Hmmm, RSE2006? I don't know what that is. But from what I have heard the RAW images from the XTi only open in DPP until they update existing software. I know the PS plug-in is coming. I'm hoping there are better programs for editing in RAW. Actually tomorrow we plan on going out and practicing some more in sunlight conditions. So I guess WB will be better, and I just have to learn some of the camera tricks now. I will post my results tomorrow night after I get off work. Thanks again for your advise. And thanks to everyone else that has helped me. I love this community!!!

i like the first version of number two.. the wb takes away a warm effect that the first version had

Yup, pretty lady. And I second what's been said. I see you have CS2 so I'll put in a plug for Neat Image noise reduction. The plug-in for CS2 really smooths out the workflow. Hasn't Adobe gotten the 400D raw software updated yet? You should be able to do all your raw processing in CS2.

CookieMonster - Yeah I kinda like the original for #1 also, but I'm also liking the the way it "should" look.

Titus - Thanks . Ok I will look into Neat Image then. Although I guess for what I'm using the photos for; printing wallet size and 4x6's it's not really a problem but I always like my images to look their best. I'm not sure if they updated yet or not. I looked on the website and the latest version for the plug-in is 3.5 and it doesn't list the 400d. And to tell you the truth I can't even figure out how to install it. I've looked everywhere in the Photoshop directory and can't find the old one. If you could help me out with that it would be appreciated.